Continuous-heating furnace



Feb. 18, 1930. A.- AuRr-:Ll

CONTINUOUS HEAT ING FURNACE Filed Deo. 10, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 1 IN V ENTDR VMummy Feb. 18, 1930. A AURELI 1,7472209 CONTINUOUS HEATING FURNACE Filed De. 10, 1 927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Humm@ Awami mvEr-rf-OR:

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Feb. 18, 1930. A.AUREL1 COINTINUOUS HEATING FURNACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. l0. 1927 l l l Amann', Humm INVENTOR;

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Feb. 18, 1,930. A. AURELI Y 1,747,209

CONTINUOUS HEATING FURNACE Filed Dec. 1o, 1927 I 4 sheets-sheet 4 Aurich@ AURE'" INVENTCR QQ Attorney, l

Patented Feb. 18. 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .AURELIO AURELI, OF COGOLETO, ITALY, ASSIGNOR TO ILVA ALTI FORNI FONDERIE & ACCIAERIE DITALIA, F GENOA, I TALY CONTINUOUS-HEATING FURNACE Application iled December 10, 1927, Serial No. 239,034, and in Italy October '16,'l 1927.

My present invention relates generally to furnaces, and has particular' reference to a furnace through which a plurality of cylindrical articles, such as pipes, are to be coni tinuously passed.

The furnace to which my invention has particularly reference is of the character which re-heats centrifugally cast tubes or pipes and is designed to have the pipes rolledI f less chain is arranged, al' set of stakes being removably applicable through 'said slot into engagement with said chain, said stakes being adapted to pro]ect' upwardly out of said slot into the spaces between the 'cylindrical articles.

A particular feature lies in providing the chain and stakes of such a character that the stakes may be variably positioned along the chain so as to accommodate a variety of differently 'sized pipes therebetween.

Another' feature lies in so constructing the furnace floor that articles with enlarged ends (such as pipes having flanges at their ends) may be rolled through the furnace in full rolling contact with the floor, thereby minimizing any danger of deformation during the passage through the furnace. y

Another feature resides in providing means for automatically causing the stakes to disassociate themselves from the chain after the passage of the chain and stakes through the furnace.

A still further feature lies in the provision of means for automatically guiding pipes of different lengths along two different paths after the same have left the furnace.

For'the attainment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinstantially along the line b-b of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line a-a of Figure 2;

- Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged udetail views of the conveying mechanism at the outlet and inlet portions of the furnace respectively;

Figure 7 is aplan view of a'portion of a conveyor chain constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 8 is a side View. of Figure 7c;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 7; and

Figure 10 is a plan View of a portion of Figure Referring to the drawings, I will point out that the furnace is substantially tube shaped, the inlet being at the left of Figures 1 and 2 and the outlet at the right thereof. Over the forward portion of the furnace a combustion chamber 1 is arranged, this chamber being provided withJ the burners 2 and the openings 3,- the latter openings serving as a passage for the combustion gases to enter the furnace proper or hearth chamber 4. The products of combustion 'are allowed to leave the furnace through a series of vertical passages 5, the latter communicating with a pair of longitudinally arranged conduits 6 arranged beneath the furnace chamber 4. The conduits 6 join and communicate with a main exhaust conduit 7 leading to. the stack.

Each of the passages v5 is provided with theV usual slide which is conveniently operable from the outside of the furnace.

The bottom or floor 8 of the furnace proper is slightly inclined downwardly from the entrance to the exit thereofso as to facilitate the rolling through the furnace ofthe cylindrical articles for which it is designed. l This flooringis preferably composed at the inlet that the pipes or articles may roll through the furnace in full rolling contact with the floor 8, whereby even very thin cylindrical castings or the like, which are `normally very liable to be deformed at high temperatures, may be successfully rolled through the furnace without injury thereto.

At 12 I have shown an inlet door, and at 13 an outlet door. These doors are preferably of sheet metal and are suitably hinged and provided with suitable counter-weights so that the opening and closing thereof will be facilitated with the-cooperation of the incoming and outgoing articles. A set of small side doors 14 are also preferably provided, these doors having inspection holes or windows therein whereby the work within the furnace may be carefully observed and possible deviations of the articles promptly corrected.

The oor 8 is further provided with a pair of longitudinal slots 9 and 10 within which a pair of conveyor chains 15 are arranged. A descriptionof one -of these slots and one of these chains will suffice for both.

vThe slots 9 and 10 are preferably lined with metallic U-shaped guides embedded j within the refractory material of the ioor 8.

` wiching the Referring to Figures 7-9, I will point out that each chain comprises a set of spaced.

link members 16 and a set of intermediate link elements pivotally joining the members 16. Each link member 16 is 1n the form of a block having substantially flat bottom and top surfaces and being provided with a set of equally spaced substantially vertical holes 17, Whose purpose will be presently described.

Each of the members 16 is also provided with a longitudinal groove 18 in its upper surface. Each intermediate link element comprises a pair of opposed plates sandwiching the adjacent members 16 therebetween. These plates are pivotally connected to the members 16 by means of pins which `extend through each membbr 16 and the plates sandsame.

kA number of stakes 19 and 20 are provided for removable application through the slots 9 and 10 into selected engagement withl the conveyor chains 15. Each -stake is provided with a body portion 21 which merges into a pair of legs 22, the latter defining a portion of non-circular cross-section adapted to engage within one of the grooves 18 to prevent rotation of the stake. Each stake is also provided with a downwardly extending pin 23 suitably sized to engage within any one of the holes 17. Certain of the stakes, designated by the reference numeral 19, have the pins 23 arranged with their axes coincident with the axes of the stakes. Other of the stakes, designated by the reference numeral'. 20, have the pins 23 parallel to but offset from the axes of the stakes. The amount ofthe odsetting is something less than the interval between the holes 17, whereby a selected and judicious use ofthe stakes 19 and 20 permits of variable desired spacing as shown most clearly in Figure 5.

A pair of pulleys 24 and 25 are arranged at opposite ends of the furnace for guidlng the conveyor chains. One of the pulleys 24 is shown in Figure 6 and is mounted upon a shaft 26. One of the pulleys 25 is shown in Figure 5 and is mounted upon a shaft 27. Each of the pulleys has a body portion 28 provided with a polygonal periphery 29, the

latter defining a number of plane faces adapted to accommodate the under-surfaces of the link members 16. Sandwiching each body portion 28 are a pair of toothed discs 30, the teeth being so spaced and arranged as to engage between adjacent plates of the link elements on one side of the link members 16.

The shaft 27 of the pulleys 25 is extendedv as shown in Figure 2, .andr is driven, through a suitable chain of gears, by a motor 31. The speed ofthe chains may be varied within desired limits by simply selecting the proper ratio of gears 32. f

The rear pulleys 24 are mounted upon adv j ustable bearings 33, the latter being slidable upon guides 34 mounted upon the brickwork foundation 35. Thetension of the conveyor chains may be adjusted by controlling the positions of the bearings 33, and this is preferably accomplished by means of screws 36 wzith which are associated the volute springs The conveyor chains, during the passage thereof from the pulleys 25 rearwardly to the pulleys 24, pass lover flanged wheels or rollers'38 mounted uponthe foundations 39 and positioned beneath the furnace proper.

The entrance door 12 is arranged between the rear pulleys 24 and is preferably provided with inspection windows or holes 40. At the front of the furnace, flush with the fiooring 8, andpreferably connected thereto, are a set .of runways or guides 41 and 42. These runways are so constructed and arranged as to accomplish an automatic separation of certain longer articles from certain shorter ones. See for example Figures 1, 2, and 5. More partlcularly, the runway 41 consists of a pair of spaced rails adapted to guide articles of a length greater than the spacing'of these rails.

tal direction as shown in Figure 5. The other runway 42 comprises a second set of rails arranged between the'rails 41 and hence capable of guiding articles of a length greater .than the spacing between the rails 42 but less than the spacing between the rails 41. The rails 42 preferably extend downwardly so as to guide the shorter artic-les below the longer ones as shown .in Figure 5.

-. they may ultimately be withdrawn and supextend into sai plied to the entrance side of the furnace.

-A motor controls the burners 2.

I claim- 1. In a furnace through which is to be passed a plurality of cylindrical articles having each externally projecting parts at an end, a furnace floor having a longitudinal groove accommodating the rojecting parts of the cylindrical articles. wlliereby said articles may vroll longitudinally through said furnacein full rolling contact with said floor.

2. In a furnace through which a cylindrical article is to be rolled, a plane furnace floor having a longitudinal slot, an endless conveyor chain in said slot and including link members having holes therein, a stake adapt` ed to extend into said slot and project upwarly out of the same, and a pin on said stake removably engageable Within any of said holes.

3. In a furnace through which a plurality of cylindrical articles are to be rolleda plane furnace floor having a longitudinal slot, an endless conveyor chain in said slot and including link members having equally spaced holes therein, a lurality of stakes adapted 'to d) slot and to project upward-l ly out of the same into the spaces between said articles, anda pin on each stake removably engageable within anv of'said holes; certain of said pins having their axes coincident with the axes .of their stakes, other of said pins having theiraxes parallel to but -oifset from the axes of their stakes.v

4. In a furnace through which a plurality of cylindrical articles are to be rolled, a plane furnace iioor having alongitudinal slot, an endless conveyor chain in said slot'and including link members having equally spaced holes therein, a pluralitvV of stakes adapted to extend into said slot and to Aproject upwardly out of the same into the spaces between said articles, and a pin on each stake removably engageable within any of said holes; certain of said pins having their axes parallel to but oiset from the axes of their stakes by p said members.

'spacing'.

amounts less than the intervals between .said holes. Y

5. In combination with aA slotted furnace `lioor, a conveyor chain in said slot and including a link member having a longitudinal slot throughout its entire upper surface and a set' of substantially vertical holes therein, a block with legs received in the groove of the link and a stake arranged in said block and removably applicable through said slot into engagement with said chain, and a pin engageable within any of said holes to prevent rot-ation of the stakes. .I

6. In combination with'a slotted furnace floor, a conveyor chain in said slot and comprising a set of spaced link members each of which has a set of holes therethrough, a set of intermediate link elements pivotally joining ing a pair of plates sandwiching'the adjacent link members between them, a pin extending through each member andthe plates sandwiching the same; and a stake removably applicable through said slot into engagement within one of said holes.

7. In combination with a linkedconveyor chain comprising a set of spaced link members having substantially flat under surfaces. kand a set of link elements pivotally joining said members and comprising Vplates sandwiching said members between them; a pulley comprising a body portion with a polygonal periphery, said periphery defining flat faces adapted to accommodate the under surfaces of said members, and a pair of toothed discs sandwiching said body portion, said teeth being so spaced and shaped as to enter the spaces A between adjacentV plates on oppositel sides of 8. In combination with a slotted furnace Hoor, a conveyor chain in said slot, a pair of pulleys for said chain at opposite ends of said floor, whereby the chain will move through said slot and thence around one of said pulleys, a set of stakes removably associated at spaced intervals with the portion of the chain said members, each of said e ements comprisfin said slot, said stakes extending upwardly through said slot, and means for dislocating` said. stakes after they leave said slot, said `means comprising a transverse. obstruction encounterable by said stakes as the chain passes around said pulley.

9. In a furnace through which a set o cylindrical articles are to be rolled, a furnace floor, an exit door, and a set of runways flush Awith the floor at said door, one of said runways comprising a pair of spaced rails adapted to guide articles of a length greater Vthan said spacing, the other of said runways com-A prising a pair of rails betweensaid iirst" named pair and adapted to guideal-ticles of a length greater than said last-mentionedA and less lthan said first-mentioned spacing `10. In a furnace through which a set of cylindrical articles are to be rolled, a furnace floor, an exit door, and a set of runways flush with the floor at said door, one of said runways comprising a pair of spaced rails adapted to guide articles of a length greater than said spacing, the other of said runways comprising a pair of rails between said firstnamed pair and adapted to guide articles of a length greater than said last-mentioned spacing and less than said first-mentioned spacing; the intermediate pair of rails extending downwardly to guide the shorter articles below the longer ones.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

AURELIQ AURELI. 

